Christa

Christa is a German and Scandinavian short form of Christina, which derives from the Latin Christianus, meaning follower of Christ, itself rooted in the Greek Christos, meaning anointed one. The name gained widespread use in German-speaking countries during the twentieth century and carries strong Christian religious connotations. It is perhaps most prominently associated in modern memory with Christa McAuliffe, the American teacher who was selected as the first civilian astronaut and died in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Related forms include Christine, Christina, and Kristina.